Health and body developing machine



y 23, 1940. L. GREENB ERG 2209,1eo

HEALTH AND BODY DEVELOPING MACHINE v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1933 1322/! far I Lows GBEE/VBEEGT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fnv'ewz ar lows filefzmagee July 23, 1940. L. GREENBERG HEALTH AND BODY DEVELOPING MACHINE Original izied A? 9, 1933 43 z' Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. I 684,329, August 9,1933. This application June 4, 1937, Serial No.-146,432

v 11 Claims.

The invention relates to a' novel mechanical movement and particularlyv to a health and body developing machine, which forms the subject matter of my original application, Serial No. 684,329, filed August 9, 1933, of which the present application is a substitute.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compact and simple machine adapted to act directly on the legs and abdominal muscles of a person, and indirectly, on the entire body of a person, in the nature of a massage.

A further object aims at providing a standing platform for a person, which platform is actuated'to execute a universal tilting motion whereby the person standing thereon is subjected to the influence of such motion and improves his muscular tone and health in general.

Another object aims at providing a universally tilting platform so that a person standing thereon experiences the reactions set up by the platform against the weight of the body. I A still further object aims at providing the machine with handle bars, enabling a person to hold the same so as to permit the body to receive the full benefit of the action of the platform.

It is also an object to provide certain features of construction and arrangement tending to enhance the usefulness and efficaoy of a machine of this character.

With these and other equally important ob-v jects in view, which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with parts in different positions.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character indicates generally a base or support which includes a front portion 1 I, and rear portions l2, serving as supporting legs, the legs being inter-connected by a horizontal web l3.

.On the underside of web I3 is formed integrally a gearbox [4, having a removable bottom plate 3|, while on the upper face is an upwardly projecting supporting member l5. Mounted upon-the base IO-is a-motor l6 .having a vertical shaft II which extends downwardly into box I4 where is secured a driving pinion l8.

Pinion I8 is in mesh with a gear train which includes the gears and pinions l9 and20 mounted ona stub shaft 25, gears 2| and 22 on a stub shaft 26, and gears and pinion 23 and 24, respectively, on a stub shaft 21.

The pinion 24 is in mesh with a gear 28 secured to a'driven shaft 29in a hub bearing 30 in the web l3.

The shaft 29 is positioned midway between the supports II and IS. The bottom plate 3i of the gear box I4 is secured by screws 32 and has bean ings for the lower ends of the stub shafts 25; 26," 2'! and the driven shaft 29, the upper ends of those elements seating in bearings in the web l3. The upper end of shaft 29 is provided with an enlarged head 33having an upwardly directed inclined face 34 (Fig. 4) from which upstands an off-center pin 35 at right angles thereto.

The pin may be constructed integrally with the head 33. The pointof connection of the pin 35 with the head or collar 33 is off center with respect to the axisof shaft 29, but the axis of the pin 35 intersects the axis ofv shaft 29.

Pivoted upon :the spaced supporting members and i5, as by pivot pins 36, is a rigid frame member generally designated by 31, which may include front and rear walls 38 and 39 connected by side members '40, asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The Walls 38 and 39 are formed with concave inner faces, as shown at 41. A rigid plate or platform 42, herein shown as being square, of sufiioient size to conveniently support the two feet of a user, and conforming to the interior dimensions and contours of frame 31, is pivoted to the frame member'3'l upon an axis at right angles to the axis of the pins 36 by the bearing pins 43 carried in the side members 40. The platform is provided with a low encircling sidewall or flange 44 and with a centrally located boss 45 apertured as at 46 to receive and form a bearing for the upper end of the pin 35 of the driven shaft 29.

The axis of the bearing is perpendicular to the plane of the platform. The axes of the pivot pins 36 and 43 lie in a single plane and at right angles to each other, the point of intersection being in line with the axis of shaft 29, as indicated in Fig. 3. The platform 42 makes an acute angle with the horizontal and is adapted to support a person; as stated'supra. It may be provided with a corrugated rubber mat 41 on its'upper surface to prevent slipping.

Secured to the rear leg portions 12' are'upwardly l muscles and joints, he steps upon the'platform 42, takes hold of either one of the crossbars '49 or 50, to serve as a handle bar to maintainbalance, if necessary, and turns on the switch 5| to start the motor [6. By meansof the speed-reducing train of gears in box 14, the shaft 29 is retated and its associated pin 35 revolves therewith.

As the pin 35 is inclined from the vertical and as the platform 42 is always perpendicular to the pin through enclosing it, in the bearing 46, it is clear that the platform' 'will always be tilted as;the

pin revolves. I

The low point of the'platform will move around the shaft 29 once with every turn of that shaft, as will the high point which will be spaceddiametrically opposite the low.

As the shaft 29 rotates, the pin 35 imparts to the platform a double oscillating movement once about the axis defined by the pivot pins 43, and then simultaneously about the axis defined by the pivot pins 36 at right angles to the first mentioned axis.

The platform will, in effect, roll upon the surface of a cone having its apex. in the platform and. on the center line of the shaft 29 with,' its major axis vertical. This movement of. the, platform is made possible by the pivotal mountings disclosed which, in effect, constitute a gimbal joint, and by the fact that the point of intersection of shaft 29 and pin 35. lies in the same plane I defined by the pivot pins 36 and 43.

kneading and massaging the internal organs, and

As the upper surface of platform 42 extends, as is seen in Figs. 3 and 4, through the intersection of the center lines of the shaft 29 and the pin 35, it follows that the point in the ,platform'coinciding with the intersection is substantially a dead point.

The platform 42 is of sufficient size, as before stated, to receive the two feet of the user, one upon each side of this dead point, and of a dividing line through'this point- One footipf the user is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 with the user facing the handles 49' and50. j

With the user so positioned on the platform, it

is obvious that, asthe low point of the tilted.plat-. form moves around its periphery, that, depend-- ing upon the direction of rotation of shaft 29, first the heel will be below thesole and thenabove'it; further, that first the inside'ofthe' foot will'be higher than the outside, and then it will be lower; and still further, that first one foot will be higher than the other and thenit will belower. If thedirection of, rotation of the shaft 29 is re.- versed, then the sequence is the reverse of that indicated. l 1

These movements imparted tothe feet of the user thoroughly exercise the feet and ankles as.

well as the leg muscles. The change in the relationship between the feet exercises a large part of the body muscles, especially the, legs and abdominal muscles. It further has an effect of consequently, is very beneficial. to the. system and ilae aeieih e th,

While the drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore, do not limit myself to the details of construction and arrangement, as shown, but

claim my invention as broadly as art permits.

Iclaim: I "1. exercising apparatus including'a base,

the state of the 'a plate mounted on said base for universal tilting motion, a crank shaft having an angularly disposed, section rotatably seated in and normally supporting said plate in an inclined position, a

- motor, reduction gearing between said motor and said shaft, and handle bars mounted on said base.

2. An exercising machine, including a base, a frame pivotally supported about a horizontal axis onsaid base, a platform mounted in said frame to form a gimbal joint therewith, and a shaft maintaining said platform in inclined position and impartingrotary drive to said platform.

3. A machine of the character specified, including'abase, a fra'me supported on said base, for

tilting in a vertical plane, a platform in said frame supported for tilting in a vertical plane at right angles to saidfirst. mentioned plane and means for actuating said. frame and saidplatform. f

4. In, an exercising r'nachine a support, an open-top frame pivotally secured. thereto about a horizontal axis, a plate adapted to support the weight of a, user secured to said frame for pivotal movement and positioned within the confines thereof, said plate being capable of pivotal movement about one axis on said frame and conjoint movement with said frame, about an axis at right angles to said one axis', and means acting on said plate to affect universal, tilting of said plate. i y

5. In an exercising machine a support, a frame pivotally secured thereto about a horizontal axis, a plate positioned within the limits of and secured to saidframe for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis at right angles to the pivotal axis of said frame, said plate and frame being adapted for conjoint movement about the pivotal axis of said frame, and means acting on said plate to impart thereto tion.

7 vide a gimbal joint, and meansforinaintaihing said plate in sloping position and imparting thereto a universal tilting motion.

7.- In an exercising machine a support, a gimbal' a rolling tilting mo-.

6. In combination with asupport, a framepivjoint carried by said support upon a horizontal axis, one part of said gimbal' joint being formed as a platform to permit a person to stand thereon, means for imparting a rolling motion tosaid platform, and handle bars secured to said support adaptedto be held by a person while occu-' pying said platform.

8. In an exercising machine a support, a frame. mountedfor pivotal movement about a. horizontal axis on said support, a platform positioned in said frame and secured for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis spaced angularly from. said first-mentioned axis, in. the same plane and adapted to receive the feet of. and support the toy user, and means acting on said platformv to efan inclined plate positioned closely adjacent a supporting surface, means non-rotatably mounting said plate on said base for universal tilting comprising horizontal axes which are angularly displaced, said plate serving as a standing platform for a person, means for actuating said plate with a universal tilting movement to cause said plate to affect the person standing thereon, said means for actuating being spaced from said mounting means, and handle bars carried by said base above and forward of said plate and affording a hold to the person standing thereon.

10. In an exercising apparatus, a base, a person supporting plate mounted on said base by pivoted means at its periphery for preventing rotation and for universal tilting motion, a crank shaft having an angularly disposed section ro-- tatably seated in and normally inclining said plate at an angle to the horizontal, andmeans for imparting rotation to said shaft to cause said plate to tilt progressively and to cause the low point of said plate to move around its periphery. 11. In combination with a support, a frame pivotally secured thereto by a horizontal axis, a plate pivotally secured to said frame upon an axis lying substantially in its top surface to provide a gimbal joint, and means for maintaining said plate in sloping position and imparting thereto a universal tilting motion, the meeting edges of said frame and plate being arcuate and in snug contact relation. LOUIS GREENBERG. 

